28 December 2015

Aro Ling Cardiff Buddhist Centre

35 Merthyr Road, Whitchurch, Cardiff, CF14 1DB 07875 716644

JanuaryNewsletter 2016

All of us at Aro Ling Cardiff hope that you have enjoyed a splendid Yuletide and wish you all the best for 2016. Have you made any resolutions? How about resolving to establish a daily meditation practice in 2016. Ten minutes of silent sitting every day can enable us to be calmer and more content, creating a peaceful atmosphere around us.

2016 at Aro Ling Cardiff Buddhist Centre begins with our regular monthly introductory session Discovering the Spaciousness of Mind onSaturday, 2nd January. The spring schedule then begins with our usual opening days, Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 5th January. Look out for the two new sessions: Dances of the Jane Austen Era, Wednesdays at 16:30, and a new meditation group, also on Wednesdays, at 18:00. Please see details below.

There are only about 4 places remaining for the January retreat with the Aro gTér Lineage
Holders teaching on Dzogchen at Aro Ling. This is a rare opportunity to
hear these teachings from realised Dzogchen practitioners. If you would like to attend, booking soon is recommended.

Other news – Aro Ling Buddhist Centre has been nominated for a Citizenship Award.

Please vote for us here before the end of the year. Voting closes on December 31st 2015.

Thank you.

New for 2016

Dances of the Jane Austen Era - Wednesdays 16:30

Have you enjoyed the dancing in classic drama productions such as
‘Pride and Prejudice’ and ‘Emma’? Come to Aro Ling Cardiff Buddhist
Centre and learn how to practise them.
To dance these Georgian dances well requires passion and
precision; respect and consideration; good humour and sensitivity – all
valuable qualities Buddhists develop. While dancing we must be aware of
our partner and our neighbour, and the overall pattern of the dance –
and still have fun.
The class is suitable for adults, and children aged 10 and above with a supervising adult.
Adults £3, accompanied children £1.Meditation Group - Wednesdays 18:00
A new, one hour, early-evening meditation session - the perfect way to
end your work day and feel refreshed to enjoy the rest of your evening.
Short periods of silent meditation are interspersed with chant and song.
Beginners and experienced meditators welcome. Requested donation £4. Saturday retreats for the new year (details below)January 23: Dzogchen, Wonderment & VividnessFebruary 13: Wearing the body of VisionsMarch 12: The MahasiddhasApril 09: The 5 Principles of Awareness

sKu-mNyé 14:00; Meditation & Song 15:15; Dancing of Jane Austen Era 16:30; Meditation Group 18:00sKu-mNyé
is a physical yoga practice. It offers a range of movements, from
simple and gentle to demanding and vigorous – so there is something for
everyone. All are welcome whatever age or level of fitness. A wonderful
form of exercise that is refreshing and invigorating. Each class is 1
hour and a donation of £4 is requested.Meditation
groups and daytime meditation – beginners and experienced meditators
welcome. Short periods of meditation are interspersed with yogic song
and chant. Discover emptiness and self-awareness. Daytime £4, evening
£5 donation requested. Introductory session every first Saturday of the
month – £8 donation requested.

Monthly schedule:First Saturday of month:
Discovering Spaciousness of Mind 10:00 – 12:00; an introduction to the
Aro gTér Lineage and its practices, and to the Nyingma school of
Buddhism; £8 donation requested.Retreat days
– one Saturday a month as advertised, 10:00 to 19:00; £30 in advance,
or £35 on the day. Concessions available on application and if paid in
advance.January 23: Dzogchen, Wonderment & VividnessFebruary 13: Wearing the body of VisionsMarch 12: The MahasiddhasApril 09: The 5 Principles of Awareness

January 23: Dzogchen, Wonderment & VividnessIn
their first teaching at Aro Ling Cardiff, the Lineage Lamas will give
direct introduction to Dzogchen sem-dé – the totality teaching of the
‘nature of Mind’. Dzogchen is unique in dealing with the experience of
being human at the most essential level of perception. Dzogchen lays
bare the problems which arise through our dualistic vision – and creates
a sense of wonderment at the immense possibility for each individual.10:00 – 19:00; £35 if paid in advance, £40 on the day**Booking
recommended as this event will be likely to be oversubscribed. This
retreat is charged at slightly more than usual so that Aro Ling Cardiff
can make an offering to Ngak’chang Rinpoche and Khandro Déchen, and pay
their travel expenses. **

February 13: Wearing the Body of Visions
Explore the rich and dramatic symbolism of inner Tantra, through
practices of vision, yogic song, chant, mudra, and Tantric music. We are
symbols of our true enlightened selves, and through ‘wearing’ the
visionary body of the awareness-beings we can reveal our true nature.
The peaceful, joyous, and wrathful awareness-beings are the key to both
personal dignity and to perceiving the dignity of others. The day will
conclude with an empowerment into the
practice of Yeshé Tsogyel, the female tantric Buddha of Tibet.
10:00 – 19:00, £30 if paid in advance, £35 on the dayMarch 12: The MahasiddhasThe
84 Mahasiddhas were early Tantric practitioners who discovered complete
liberation through outrageously conventional or unconventional means.
The lives of the Mahasiddhas emphasise that spiritual realisation is
found within ordinary life, not in a special realm outside it. Stories
of some of the 84 Mahasiddhas will presented from the unique perspective
of Dzogchen. This method of integrating practice into the experience of
everyday life is a profound practice of finding the presence of
awareness in all of one’s experience.10:00 – 19:00, £30 if paid in advance, £35 on the day

April 09: The 5 Principles of AwarenessThe
method of the Owl Precepts undermines the confusion that creates
unhappiness and dissatisfaction. Living within the Owl Precepts is an
invaluable method of realising the spiritual path through everyday life.
This Dzogchen view of the Five Buddhist Precepts originates in the
Heart Essence Sutra of the Owl-headed Dakini, from the gTérmas of
Khyungchen Aro Lingma (1886-1923). 10:00 – 19:00, £30 if paid in advance, £35 on the day